Academic Job Market Info Session 2009: Everything You Need to Know

1. Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Going on the Academic Job Market Info Session 2009

2. Should I Be on the Market? • Do you have a well-written, well-developed job paper? • Are you prepared to present your research? • When can you realistically see being finished? • Talk to your chair!!!

3. Where and What Is the Market? • Allied Social Science Association (ASSA) annual meetings • Sponsored by American Economic Association (AEA) and 50 other related disciplines • 3 days at beginning of calendar year • January 2-5, 2010, Atlanta, GA • On site interviews

4. Where and What Is the Market? • American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) annual meetings • 3 day conference joint with WAEA (Western) and CAES (Canadian) and including AERA (Env & Res.) and ACCI (Am. Council on Consumer Interests) • Late summer; July 25-27, 2010 in Denver, CO • Employment Center (registration required; CV and a short questionnaire)

5. Where Do I Find Job Listings? • Websites of major organizations will have job & internship listings, resume banks, general career info • AAEA: www.aaea.org/classifieds • AEA: listings in JOE (Job Openings for Economists) http://www.aeaweb.org/joe/ • AERE: http://www.aere.org/jobs/index.html • The Chronicle of Higher Education: www.chronicle.com (faculty, administrative, nonacademic)

6. Where Do I Find Job Listings? • Social Science Research Network (SSRN): www.ssrn.com (a sub-selection for Economic Research Network) • Inomics (European positions): www.inomics.com • Association of Public Policy Analysis & Mgmt: http://www.appam.org/home.asp • UK-JOE (Royal Economic Society): http://newdomino.lbs.ac.uk/econ.nsf/UKJoe • Health Econ jobs: www.healtheconomics.org/jobs • Post Docs: www.postdocjobs.com

7. Ok, there are jobs. Which ones do I apply for? • In the initial stages, it is best not to be overly limiting in your search. A general rule of thumb is: “Don’t apply for a job you would not accept; but apply for any job you prefer to unemployment.” • Level? • Emphasizing which strengths? • Management/supervisory responsibility? • Functions? • Roles and activities? • Size/type of institution? • Culture? • Resources? • Geography? • Other……….?

8. What Goes in My Application Packet? • Curriculum Vitae • The primary differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV) are the length, what is included and what each is used for. • Be certain to include contact information: • a professional email address • phone number with a professional voice mail message • postal address • more frequently, a professional website

9. What Goes in My Application Packet? • Your CV Should Also Include: • Education (reverse chronology) • Licenses and Certifications • Honors/Awards • Experience/Professional Employment (reverse chronology) • Professional Activities • Professional Development Activities • Publications/Presentations (reverse chronology may use selected, recent or relevant) • Research/Grants • References • Your CV Should NOT Include: • Marital status, age, health, race, gender, health, photo, salary... • Use of pronouns, especially “I” • Full sentences - use phrases beginning with action verbs and include results/outcome… • Repeated introductory phrases like “responsibilities include/d…”

10. What Goes in My Application Packet? • Cover Letter/Letter of Introduction • Be specific to the position and institution • include evidence that you’ve researched the position and institution • MATCH your talents to their needs • Should briefly describe your research and teaching experience, and also demonstrate your intellect and writing ability, your enthusiasm and interest in what you do • Should give a sense that you are "job ready"--that you can start teaching immediately, have a research agenda already underway, and have some sense of what it means to be a fully-functioning faculty member in your field

11. What Goes in My Application Packet? • Research Agenda • Summarizes your current research • A list of articles you hope to write in the next 3-5 years • OR • A statement of the questions you plan to look into, as well as some tentative thoughts on the types of answers you might have.    • Lays firm foundations for further research whether it stems from current research or branches into new areas • Should be as specific as possible

12. What Goes in My Application Packet? • Teaching Portfolio • Describes and documents your teaching ability • Should include: • statement of teaching philosophy • your conception of teaching and learning • a description of how you teach • justification for why you teach that way • communicate your goals as an instructor and your corresponding actions in the classroom • provide an opportunity to point to and tie together the other sections of your portfolio • description of teaching experience (responsibilities) • course planning artifacts: sample course syllabi, lesson plans, assignments, exams • evidence of teaching effectiveness: summary of student feedback, department evaluations • teaching awards and recognition • professional development efforts (Econ Grad TA Training, CoAT, FIT, PTP)

13. What Goes in My Application Packet? • Academic Transcripts • Letters of Reference (at least 3; one from your chair) • Dissertation Abstract • Writing Sample/Job Market Paper

14. So I Got An Interview!! Now What?? • Short interviews (20-30 minutes or so) conducted in hotel suites/rooms • Try to be aware of scheduling and hotel locations • Two to five interviewers • Be prepared to be knowledgeable about the institution, faculty and research strengths (its okay to ask who’ll be at the interview) • Be prepared to discuss your future research goals and agenda and to tie these interests in to those of the department • Be prepared to discuss your ability to teach the courses listed on the job ad (have a text in mind!!) • Share your interest in the position

15. So I Got An Interview!! Now What?? • Remember the goals of the interviewer! • The institution wants to know: • How does this applicant’s education, experience and accomplishments meet our needs/requirements? • What is her/his potential for adding value to our institution’s or department’s mission/goals?

16. “Tell Me About Yourself….” • The 2-Minute Spiel • Name and profession • Where you were raised, your education, and career history (selective and relevant to the position applying for) • “My educational history includes……” • “My strengths/accomplishments include...” • Opportunity to explain why you’ve pursued this area of education/employment • Future focus and goals

17. “Tell Me About Your Research…” • Be prepared to summarize your research/dissertation in various situations • 1-2 minute quick meeting at lunch, in the elevator • 5-7 minute interview version • 15 minute extended discussion • Presentation length (for onsite call back interviews)

18. What Can/Should I Ask My Interviewers • Ask questions of the interviewers!! • Teaching loads • Research / teaching split • Departmental/university service • Tenure requirements • Grantsmanship • Steps being taken to reach stated goals • Salary discussions should be held at least until on site interviews

19. Anything Else? • Economics Graduate Program Website • Job Market Resources • http://mgt.ncsu.edu/econ_grad/current/career_resources/JobMarketResources.php • Going on the Ag Econ Job Market http://are.berkeley.edu/jobmarket/ag_econ_market2.pdf • A Guide and Advice for Economists on the US Junior Academic Job Market http://www.aeaweb.org/joe/articles/2002/2002-09-cawley.html • Strategy and Etiquette for Graduate Students Entering the Academic Job Market http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=10587195%28199923%2F24%2921%3A2%3C513%3ASAEFGS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y • Search for an Economics Job with a Teaching Focus • http://mgt.ncsu.edu/econ_grad/current/career_resources/JobMarketResources.php